Treating Bipolar Disorder With Virtual Reality

How researchers are using gaming technology to revolutionise the way we treat mental disorders.

One in four people worldwide will suffer from a mental health problem at some point in their lives. Yet the treatments, which range from psychotherapy to medication, aren't always effective.

We meet Alika Agidi-Jeffs, a young musician living in London, diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a condition characterised by moods that swing between the opposite extremes of severe depression and overexcitability or mania.

Globally, millions of people like Alika face a challenging path to recovery. But a group of researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London and King’s College Hospital, hope the immersive quality of virtual reality could improve traditional treatments by helping those with mental health issues learn to deal with their distress in a safe environment.

Join Dr Louise Pealing in London to see how gaming technology is helping to revolutionise the way we treat mental disorders.